Best Adventure & Exploration Film: Forgotten Mines and the Men Redefining Adventure
The Lost Boys of Carbis Bay, a powerful new documentary from Director Dan Simpkins and Editor Angus Breton with support from MANUP? and Roll Nine Producer Kirsty Malcolm, has won a top award at the prestigious Kendal Mountain Festival, one of the world’s leading celebrations of adventure, exploration and storytelling.
Selected from over 600 international submissions, the film was recognised for its deeply moving portrayal of a group of unlikely underground explorers who find community, purpose, and connection in the forgotten mines of Cornwall.
The team is also excited to announce at least 6 cinema screenings will be taking place in Cornwall in January.
An award-winning documentary
In their official statement, the Jury of the Kendal Mountain Festival 2025 praised the film for redefining what exploration can mean:
“Adventure and exploration take many forms, and this category has long honoured bold stories from the farthest corners of the world. But true exploration can also be inward, a quiet, often challenging journey into who we are, what we fear, and what we need from one another.
This year, we recognise a filmmaker who captures that duality with striking clarity, following a group of men whose chosen pursuit—tucked away in the far-flung depths of the Cornish coast—becomes a lifeline. Their world may be niche, dark, damp, even dangerous, but within it they uncover something universal; the grounding power of community, and the quiet courage it takes to show up for one another.
This film is a heartfelt reminder that belonging can emerge in the most unexpected places, and that exploration of the inner landscape can be every bit as profound as any physical journey.” Emma Crome, member of the 2025 Kendal Mountain Festival Film Jury.
Festival organisers go on to say:
“As soon as this film was submitted for consideration at Kendal, we knew we’d found a gem – like an artefact discovered down one of the mines explored by the Carbis Bay Crew, this film has a kind of magic that can only be found in a film that’s shown utter dedication—a labour of love to its director.
At Kendal we champion films that explore different facets of adventure with delicacy, craft, and above all, films which let the people within them shine. And this film – it’s all about the people. We can’t wait to see what Dan and the team go on to create, and we are so pleased that The Lost Boys of Carbis Bay is now part of the Kendal Mountain family.” Faye Latham, Film & Arts Manager at Kendal Mountain Festival.
A Story of Discovery from the Depths of Cornwall
For this certainly unconventional group—known as The Carbis Bay Crew—their subterranean adventures offer a cathartic release, allowing them to set aside worries, reconnect with themselves, and reset for the challenges of everyday life.
Shot over two years, Simpkins’ now award-winning documentary illuminates the emotional terrain beneath the surface: the complexities of masculinity, the quiet crisis in men’s mental health, and the unspoken bonds formed in extreme, almost secretive spaces.
Director Dan Simpkins says “This film isn’t just about mine exploration—it’s about what we carry with us and the places we feel safe enough to let go. The men at the heart of this story opened their world to me, and this award honours their honesty as much as the filmmaking.”
Pat Moret, one of the pivotal figures of the group says of the award: “I am really proud to have been involved in this project that shines a light on a pretty alternative passion and pastime in Cornwall.” He goes on to add while admiring the award with a fond chuckle “Even my kids are impressed.”
The trophies for this year’s awards are crafted by Andy Parkin, a Chamonix-based artist who has brought them to life from salvaged objects such as discarded climbing equipment found in the alps.
A Creative Partnership Forged in Cornwall
Simpkins collaborated closely with long-time friends, fellow Falmouth University alumni and Cornish Editor Angus Breton, whose intimate knowledge of the region shaped the film’s emotional depth.
“Loneliness is a huge issue in the UK,” says Breton. “Seeing a group find real connection in such an unexpected place is incredibly powerful. We wanted the film to feel raw, grounded, and true to the Cornwall we know.”
A Win That Amplifies an Urgent Conversation
This year’s festival theme, Hope, made The Lost Boys of Carbis Bay especially resonant. In a landscape of big-budget adventure films, we hope our documentary stands out for its intimate, human scale—revealing that great journeys can unfold in the most unlikely places.
Producer Kirsty Malcolm of Roll Nine, who has her own deeply personal ties to men’s mental health, hopes the award will open up new conversations:
“This is a story about ordinary men who rarely see themselves reflected on screen—and about men finding community, something my dad didn’t have in his moment of need. Holding onto hope can be incredibly difficult when you feel alone, and that’s why stories like this matter. I hope this film encourages men to reach out, to stand alongside each other—even if that means dangling off a rope down a mine.”
Championing Men’s Mental Health
The project was created in partnership with MANUP?, the men’s mental health charity challenging stigma around talking openly.
“The Lost Boys of Carbis Bay shows what we see daily,” says Dan Somers, MANUP? CEO. “Connection doesn’t have to happen in a therapy room—it happens in the quiet moments, the risk, the humour, and the trust between men who feel unseen. This film gives those moments visibility.”
Next Steps, how can get involved and see the film
The team is now actively seeking new projects that celebrate rich, underrepresented communities doing remarkable things. They invite anyone who feels their world deserves to be seen on screen to reach out and share their story.
The production is also calling on festivals, broadcasters and distributors who connect with the spirit of The Lost Boys of Carbis Bay to get in touch. The film is ready to find its home, and the team is eager to collaborate with partners who believe in amplifying authentic voices and building bold, emotionally resonant slates and are also welcoming cinema screenings and Q&A sessions.
Come see the film and meet the crew – grab a ticket:
In the meantime the team are very excited to also announce the film will be screening with Q&A sessions with the cast and crew across Cornwall in January with tickets on sale now:
- 9th January 2025, Regal Cinema and Theatre, Redruth – 19:00 – on sale now
- 10th January 2025, Newlyn Filmhouse, Coming soon
- 11th January 2025, Capitol Cinema, Bodmin – 19:00 – on sale now
- 17th January 2025, Saltash Studios, Saltash – on sale now
- 18th January 2025, Regal Cinema, Wadebridge – Coming soon
- 24th January 2025, The Poly Falmouth -18:00 – on sale now
